Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of rural roads on self-driving vehicles.

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (AV Act) sets out a comprehensive legal framework with safety at its core.

The Act introduces a new authorisation process that will test self-driving capability and identify a corporation to be held accountable for vehicles behaviour. Companies applying to authorise their vehicle under the AV Act will have to set out the area in which the vehicle intends to operate, known as the operational design domain (ODD). This could include the area or road type the vehicle intends to operate in, such as motorways or rural roads.

During the authorisation process, it must be demonstrated that the vehicle is capable of operating to the safety standard required in all areas of the planned deployment.

We recognise the opportunities automated vehicles can bring in providing new freedoms to those who may be unable to drive. For example, through improving transport links in rural and isolated areas.